Tag Archives: 2026 FIFA World Cup

Carlos Vives to Perform Telemundo’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Anthem at Billboard Latin Music Awards Alongside Emilia, Wisin & Xavi

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Carlos Vives is preparing to get in the game earlier than planned…

The 64-year-old Colombian singer, songwriter and actor will join voices with Emilia, Wisin and Xavi to premiere Telemundo’s official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the upcoming Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will be presented live on Telemundo on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Carlos VivesTitled “Somos Más,” the track’s lyrics will “deliver a powerful message of unity, pride and global connection through fútbol, inviting fans to wear their team colors, raise their voices and celebrate together,” according to a press release.

“Telemundo’s World Cup anthem is more than a song – it’s a celebration,” said Telemundo’s EVP of primetime unscripted & specials Francisco Suarez in a statement. “By bringing together these artists from four vibrant Latin American countries, we’re showcasing the richness and diversity of Latino culture while delivering a powerful message of unity, peace, and joy.”

Telemundo will broadcast all 104 matches of next year’s World Cup live – 92 of them on Telemundo and 12 on Universo. Every match will stream live on Peacock and the Telemundo App.

“This anthem is a tribute to the global spirit of fútbol and the communities we serve,” said Joaquin Duro, EVP of sports at Telemundo. “As the exclusive Spanish-language home of the World Cup, we are committed to delivering the most authentic and relevant coverage of this historic tournament. ‘Somos Más’ is one of many efforts that will elevate the fan experience and bring audiences even closer to the game.”

Vives, Emilia, Wisin and Xavi will also, for the first time, speak about the making of the song and the importance of the World Cup during a conversation at Billboard’s Latin Music Week on October 22.

PSV Eindhoven Gives Ricardo Pepi Storied No. 9 Shirt Number

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Ricardo Pepi may be returning to the pitch soon.

The 22-year-old Mexican American professional soccer player, a striker for PSV Eindhoven and U.S. Men’s National Team, revealed he’s “very close” to getting back in the game after suffering a knee injury during a Champions League match against Liverpool in January.

Ricardo PepiThough Pepi scored the game-winning goal in that 3-2 victory over the Premier League giants on January 29, he was forced to leave the pitch in the 76th minute.

The forward then underwent meniscus surgery in the United States following the injury, forcing him to the sidelines for the remainder of the 2024-2025 campaign and this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup with the USMNT.

Now, Pepi said he’s close to being 100% as he prepares for the upcoming campaign.

“It’s amazing. I’ve been waiting for the past five months and now I am back on the pitch with the team,” Pepi told ESPN. “I think I am really close [to being back] I think about, almost close to 100%, doing the last little steps and then I will be back.

“It’s one of those things where you are just super impatient to get back to the field, it’s super important to take the right steps because you cannot rush an injury. It’s about when your body feels ready to be back and now I am very close to being back and super excited to get this season going.”

Pepi heads into the season with a new mindset and shirt number, recently taking up PSV‘s No. 9 from departing captain Luuk de Jong. The former FC Dallas player insists a new number comes with higher expectations to perform.

“I think they have really big expectations but no one has more expectations on me than myself. It’s a good balance between helping the team out and also achieving my goals,” said Pepi.

“I think it’ll be a good year for sure, the past two seasons we’ve gotten a taste of what I can do so it’ll be interesting to see this year.”

Pepi concluded the 2024-25 campaign with 17 goals in all competitions for PSV, recording one goal fewer than former captain De Jong despite the knee injury. Beyond the Eredivisie, Pepi hopes to impress with PSV in order to be part of the USMNT roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“It’s always been a goal of mine [to reach the World Cup] so I have to focus on what I do at a club level to even get there I am sure, and I got to take care of business here at PSV,” said Pepi.

Pepi last featured for the USMNT on Nov. 18, 2024, scoring in the team’s 4-2 victory over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal.

Neymar Extends Contract with Santos Through the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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Neymar is staying home…

The 33-year-old Brazilian forward has signed a contract extension with Santos through the end of 2025, the club has announced.

NeymarThe deal includes an option to extend his contract through the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, per ESPN Brasil sources.

His previous contract at Santos was due to expire on June 30.

Neymar rejoined his boyhood club in January after terminating his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal by mutual consent.

“I made a decision and I listened to my heart,” Neymar said in Santos’ statement. “Santos is not just my team, it’s my home, my roots, my history, and my life.

“Here, I was a boy who became a man, and I am truly loved. Here I can be myself, truly happy. And this is where I want to fulfill the dreams that are still missing in my career. And nothing will stop me.

“I go, I come back and I stay. Where it all began, where it’s never going to end.”

The new deal includes an additional contract between Santos and NR Sports for the use of Neymar’s image, sources told ESPN Brasil.

In the agreement, Santos agreed to pay a minimum of $15 million for all the new contracts from sponsors and earnings in investments generated by Neymar’s presence with the club, sources added.

Earlier this month, Neymar turned down an offer to play on loan at Brazilian club Fluminense in the Club World Cup, with the former Barcelona star focused on regaining his full fitness.

Neymar spent much of his time in Saudi Arabia on the sidelines due to an ACL injury he sustained while on international duty with Brazil in October 2023.

Recurring muscular injuries have limited Neymar to three goals and three assists in 15 games for Santos this year and prevented him from making his long-awaited return to the national team.

But the signing has paid off in other ways for Santos. The club’s president Marcelo Teixeira said that Neymar’s return to Vila Belmiro has led to record-breaking social media growth and significant commercial gains for the club.

“It is a historic and remarkable day for Brazilian football, a gift for the Santos FC fans,” Teixeira said as part of Tuesday’s announcement. “Our idol, our boy, the prince with our number 10 shirt, remains.

“It is a very important moment in this rebuilding process, and we needed Neymar, both on and off the field. The phrase ‘I go, I come back and I stay’ is emblematic and fundamental to the repositioning of Santos FC at its rightful level.”

Despite not being at the top of his game, Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr., recently said that his son has an “interested market” that included European clubs that will compete in the Champions League next season.

“We have started a very good partnership and hope to continue for a long time,” Neymar’s father said in Santos’ statement.

Neymar, who is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, is hopeful of playing in a fourth World Cup.

Brazil’s Serie A was paused on June 12 but will resume after the FIFA Club World Cup.

Santos, who returned to the top flight this year, are 15th in the standings with three wins in 12 games.

Raúl Jiménez Co-Headlining Mexico’s 23-Player Roster for Upcoming Concacaf Nations League Matches

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Raúl Jiménez is preparing for Nations play…

Mexico national team head coach Javier Aguirre has announced the 23-player roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches during the March international window, with the 33-year-old Mexican professional footballer and Santiago Gimenez headlining the squad.

Raúl Jiménez,Aguirre’s side will face Canada in the semifinal on March 20 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, before going on to face either the United States or Panama in the final or match for third place.

Mexico called up key figures that have been staples of the national team in recent competitions, including West Ham United‘s Edson Álvarez, Club America goalkeeper Luis Angel Malagon and Genoa‘s Johan Vazquez.

But the head coach surprised fans with the inclusion of Tijuana forward Efrain Alvarez and FC Copenhagen‘s Rodrigo Huescas.

The manager left out historic players like Guillermo Ochoa and Henry Martín, making way for new players to shine. New San Diego FC player Hirving Lozano also failed to make the 23-player roster after suffering a muscular injury in the team’s home opener on March 1.

Lozano was also left out of the rosters for Mexico’s Nations League quarterfinal series in November and friendlies in January due to injuries.

The Nations League semifinal and subsequent match serve as one of few competitive opportunities for Mexico on the road to the 2026 World Cup, given the team’s automatic spot in the international tournament as one of three co-hosts.

El Tri will also participate in the Gold Cup throughout the summer as preparation.

To further prepare for the World Cup, Mexico has lined up friendlies against Switzerland and Turkey in June.